What’s better than a beautiful summer evening on the porch or patio with family and friends? Here are simple, casual, outdoor summer table setting ideas to make your time special.

Summer evenings need to be savored and enjoyed. No need to be fancy when it’s just family or close friends. But simplifying the process and adding a few special touches will help you relax and put everyone else at ease, too. Enjoying a meal together on our patio is one of our favorite summertime pastimes when the big kiddos are all home. Here are some of my favorite Casual Outdoor Summer Table Setting Ideas to make it enjoyable for all.

I’m joining my Pinterest Challenge friends today to bring you a bunch of Summer table setting ideas. Thanks to Cindy from County Road 407 for organizing us! If you’ve come over from White Arrows Home, I’m sure you enjoyed Kristin’s summer table! Kristin is a fellow vintage-lover like me and happens to live in my neighboring state of Wisconsin (I’m in MN;)

Start With an Inspirational Photo

These monthly Pinterest Challenges always start with a picture that Cindy chooses for us all to design around. This month’s pic is a pretty summer table setting on the porch by Sanctuary Home Design. Karen’s set a casual table, perfect for family and close friends. Let’s notice her design cues:

The white porch posts in Karen’s picture reminds me of our own farmhouse wrap-around porch (which we love). But our dining table is actually on our adjoining patio, near the grill.

Here’s what I notice in this scene:

• rustic wood table and chairs
• Massed glassbottle vases with peonies
• ruffly-edged soft placemats
• wood breadboard as serving piece
• simplistic tableware
• candlelight
• green foliage all around

I honestly couldn’t wait to replicate this pretty table scene for myself! And I needed to get it done while the peonies were blooming…which happened in the blink of an eye this year! Here’s my version and table setting tips.

Casual Outdoor Summer Table Setting Ideas

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Use a Vintage Tool Box or Caddy to Transport Items to the Summer Table

The less trips in and out, the better, right? I love to use a vintage toolbox or tool caddy to carry as much as I can outside. These old tool trugs are made to hold tools, so they’re up to the task. Just make sure they’re clean and sealed with a coat of poly, so you can easily wipe out any spills. {For more fun ways to use these classics, see “Great Ways to Use Old Tool Boxes (all through the house)“}

Amass Jars or Bottles and Flowers for a Pretty Summer Table Setting Centerpiece

To keep the evening simple and easy, yet pretty, grab a collection of glass containers and fill them with whatever is currently blooming in your yard or garden. 

I like to use:

• old canning jars, especially aqua ones
• pop bottles with fun graphics
• vintage medicine bottles
• milkglass vases

Then, fill all your vessels with flowers, or leaves! If I don’t have enough flowers blooming at the time, I fill the containers with hosta leaves or snip branches from some bushes. Anything freshly snipped will be lovely.

Casual Outdoor-Friendly Tableware and Placemats for Summertime Ease

Garden-inspired unbreakable plates and ruffly linen placemats feel casual and comfortable. The soft fabric adds a nice texture to the wood table and the botanical look of the recycled plates embraces the surrounding gardens. Our everyday green jar glasses fit right in with the jar centerpiece, and shows off that aqua and green combo I love! 

Keeping with the unfussy, casual vibe, I grab whatever pretty paper napkins I have in my drawer. I don’t care if they’re dinner napkins, or cocktail napkins; as long as the color scheme matches, I’m good:) A friend gifted me this set recently for my B’day. Cutting up simple squares from extra fabric is another table-setting-on-the-fly trick I use often.

Garden Cuttings as a Charger and Special Accent on the Table

Since this table is supposed to be casual, I skipped the chargers and instead snipped a few large hosta leaves from the yard. We’re kind of a hosta family, and I thought it would be fun to have a “name-that-hosta” game going as we ate. And for an extra botanical touch, I snipped a few, fragrant day-lilies and simply placed one by each place setting. The pop of yellow puts a bit of happy on the table.

While the family names the hosta leaves, I’ll be admiring all the different vintage mason jar labels;) 

Natural Wood Serving Pieces and Breadboards for a Casual Outdoor Table

Natural wood serving pieces fit perfectly on this outdoor table. Wood breadboards are perfect to serve bread, cheeses, fruit, or the popular charcuterie display. Wood bowls full of greens or fruit fit in nicely, too.

Summer Evening Table Settings Need Candlelight

If there’s even a slight breeze, you’ll want to make sure your candles are protected. For a simple and safe look, I pop votive candles in small jelly jars. They have fluted edges, which makes the candlelight slightly faceted. You can add sand to the bottom if you want, or go easy and just pop the candles in by themselves. Pretty and easy is how I roll!

When all the big kiddos are home, this is how we like to enjoy a beautiful summer evening. Hot meat and veggies right off the grill with a salad, bread and fruit to go along. We can enjoy the gardens all around us, watch the birds, and have relaxing conversation. Then we can get out the s’more stuff and sit by the chiminea or the campfire after. Ah, summer nights are special, indeed! 

For more vintage-inspired table setting inspiration:

“Garden Party with Green Depression Glass and Vintage Junk”

“A Pink Depression and Peonies Patio Party”

“Blue and White Tea Party for Mom”

Hope you enjoyed these Casual Outdoor Summer Table Setting Ideas! For more Pinterest Challenge Summer Table ideas, visit Thistle Key Lane next; Michelle always has great, beautiful ideas! 

Pin, Share, and Enjoy the Rest of the Inspiration!

June Pinterest Challenge: Summer Table Settings

Sharing at these lovely parties:

Farmhouse Friday

Friday with Friends